Aerial toy



A ril 9, 1963 B. SUNRAY AERIAL TOY Filed Feb. 17, 1960 a F fiw v w %'w I 1 w 6 4 s 7 s z a w a 4 1 z 5 w 3 IN V EN TOR. jar/22rd .S'uflr A-rnmuzv United States Patent 3,084,476 AERIAL TOY Bernard Sunray, Box 87 8, Center Moriches, Long Island, N.Y. Filed Feb. 17, E60, Ser. No. 9,210 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) This invention relates to an amusement and educational device and, more particularly, to an aerial toy.

It is an object of the invention to provide an aer1al toy which is instructive, amusing and entertaining for adults as well as for children.

Another object is to provide a multi-stage aerial toy wherein the several stages are launched as a unit and automatically separated at intervals in flight, in simulation of the action of a multi-stage rocket.

A further object is to provide a multistage aerial toy, all stages of which are capable of self-sustained flight and in which the lowermost stage alone acts as the propelling and sustaining unit until automatically separated in flight from the stages ahead.

Yet another object is to provide a multi-stage aerial toy as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the automatic separation or kick-off of the lowermost stage in flight, also automatically activates the propulsion means of the next forward stage so that it continues onward or upward in flight, carrying with it any forward stages and/ or a nose dart.

Still another object is to provide an improved kickoff or separation means between stages which acts automatically in response to a predetermined expenditure of energy of the propulsion means of the lowermost stage, to separate it from the forward or preceding stage or stages and to activate the propulsion means of such forward or preceding stage.

A still further object is to provide in an aerial or flight device of the type mentioned, an improved launcher by which the assembled stages may be given a powerful, accurately-controlled initial thrust -or impulse into the air, vertically upwardly or at adesired angle to the vertical, and which can be triggered or released from a remote station, by means of a pull-cord.

Yet another object is to provide an improved nose dart forming the forwardmost stage of the assembled instrument and which is automatically separated from and launched from the forward flight stage in response to a certain expenditure of energy initially stored in such stage.

Another object is to provide an automatically-operating means separating the stages and nose dart in sequence in the forward or flight direction, and utilizing at least a substantial portion of the'energy remaning in the propulsion means of the rearward stage to impart a forward launching thrust to the preceding or forward stage or stages and-to the nose dart or cone when rfinally launched or separated.

Still another object is to provide a separation means between stages which is automatically cocked by and in response to a simple axial thrust involved in the manual connection of the stages prior to launching.

Another object is to provide an educational and amusement device of the type mentioned, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, easy to operate, eflicient and reliable in operation and a general advancein the art of aerial amusement and educational devices.

Another object is to provide in the propulsion assembly of each flight stage a normally extended rubber band which exerts a pull ten-sion to energize the separation means of said flight stage, and a twist torsion within the very same band, when it is twist-wound, to provide energy for the propulsion means of the flight stage.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a study of ly from the lower end of portion 4a.

the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing an assembled two-flight stage instrument mounted upon its launch er ready for flight, and having a nose dart attached to the top of the leading flight stage;

FIGURE 2 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale, taken in a plane identified by the line 22, FIG- URE 1, and showing the kick-oil trigger or lever in operative position between the first or ieading flight stage and the nose dart;

FIGURE 3 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale, taken in a plane indicated by line 3-3, FIGURE 1, and showing the kick-off trigger mechanism in operative position between the two flight stages;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale, corresponding to FIGURE 2 but showing the position of the trigger immediately after it has impelled the nose dart upwardly;

FIGURE 5 'is a detail view taken at right angles to FIGURE 4 and showing the bayonet slot in the cylindrical sleeve of the kick-oh mechanism, attached to the forward end of, and forming a part of the flight stage;

FIGURE 6 is a detail sectional view to a still further enlarged scale, taken in a plane identified by line 6-6, FIG.- URE 3, and showing the interfitting relation and structural cooperation between two contiguousfiight stages; FIGURE 7 is a detail view to a scale enlarged over that of FIGURE 1, showing in solid lines the kick-off spring at the upper end of the launcher before tripping, and in dashed lines, its position after kick-01f;

FIGURE.8 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 7, looking down upon the launcher;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective detail view to about the same scale as FIGURES 7 and 8, and showing the kickoff mechanism between flight stages prior to kick-off or separation, the propeller of the forward stage and its shaft being omitted for clarity of illustration; and

FIGURE 10 is aside elevation to an enlarged scale, of the trigger or kick-off lever.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 identifies the post or column of the launcher and which may be of hard wood or a tubular length of plastic or metal, having a ground-penetrating point 2 at is lower end. As best shown at FIGURE 7, a length of tubular material, preferably but not necessarily of impact-quality, low friction plastic, issized to fit smoothly down over and about the top end of column 1 and is secured thereto in any suitable way, as by adhesive. The sleeve 3 protrudes for about half its length above the upper end of column 1 and has a bayonet slot 4 formed in its protruding end which, as clearly appears from FIGURE 7, includes an axiallyextendin'g portion 4a opening through the top edge of the sleeve, and a second portion 4b extending circumferential- A launching spring 5 formed of a length of resilient wire,-consists mainly of two arms 6 and 7 integrally connected at their outer ends by a coil 8 which acts to urge the arms apart into the dashed-line position shown upon FIGURE 7. Arm 6 has its free end bent at right angles, as shown at M, FIGURE 8, to extend with a smooth bearing flt through a hole extending diametrally of and through sleeve 3 and column 1. This bent or off-set end of arm 6, in addition to its kick-off function, assists in holding the sleeve and column together. The free or protruding end of the offset may be headed'or bent laterally at 6a in order to positively retain the spring in assembled relation withthe sleeve and column and prevent its with drawal from its bearing.

As indicated at 7a, the free end of arm 7 is likewise bent at right angles, in the same direction as the bent end of arm 6, so that the two offset ends are parallel. How- 0.? ever, end 7a is somewhat shorter than end 6w so that its terminus lies within the confines of sleeve 3, as clearly shown upon FIGURE 8. Furthermore, the spring is so dimensioned, related with and connected with the sleeve, that when compressed or cocked into the position of FIG- URE 7, bent end 7a engages beneath the top edge of portion 4b of bayonet slot 4. The spring is thereby held under tension, with its arms substantially parallel and extending radially outwardly and upwardly. Thus, when the spring is cocked as shown upon FIGURE 7, and a pull substantially in the horizontal direction, is exerted upon a cord 9 attached at one end through coil 8, the spring pivots about end 6: to thereby move end 7a out of the circumferential portion of slot 4; and when this end moves into the axial portion 4a of the slot, its energy is released to exert a sudden thrust or impulse against the lower end of the lowermost stage of the flight instrument which, as subsequently explained, fits into the top open end of sleeve 3. The assembled flight stages are thereby given a powerful guided impetus into the air.

The first or lowermost stage of the flight instrument, generally identified at 10, consists of a strut 11 which may be a round length or rod of light wood such as balsa, or a tubular section of plastic or light metal. A propeller bearing sleeve 12 which may be of plastic and identical in all respects with sleeve 29, FIGURE 3, is fixed upon and about the lower rounded reduced end of strut 11 and has an external diameter sized to fit smoothly into the upper end of sleeve 3. The propeller sleeve, like that shown at 29, FIGURE 3, has a radially-offset lug or projection dimensioned to fit within the axially-extending part 4a of slot 4. This lug has a bearing hole parallel with strut 11 and offset therefrom to receive and journal propeller shaft .14 which, in a simple and highly practical form of the invention shown, may consist of a straight length of wire looped at one end as at 14a to provide an attachment for one or more rubber bands 15, and mounting a propeller 16 at its other end. The propeller may be of plastic, wood or light metal and fixed to the lower end of bearing shaft or wire 14. Alternatively the lower end of the shaft may be bent radially outwardly, then re versely 180 to extend about the hub of the propeller and thus effect its rotation synchronously with the shaft; or it may simply have a bent radial end fitting within a square notch in the propeller hub. A thrust bearing which may be in the form of a bead 17, fits freely onto the shaft between propeller 16 and lug 13, and transmits the thrust of the propeller to the strut with a minimum of frictional loss.

The one-piece wing 18 of the lower or first flight stage is conveniently secured to strut 11 by forming a central longitudinal slot in the strut opening through two '01) posite flat sides thereof and having an axial dimension substantially equal to the altitude of the triangular wing. The slot is dimensioned to receive the Wing with a smooth fit so that the latter may be held in position by friction, assisted if required, by adhesive or by tacking.

The top round end 11a of strut 11 has a plastic sleeve 19 fitting down over it and secured thereto in any suitable way, as by adhesive or pinning. Referring more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 9, it will be noted that the sleeve projects a substantial distance beyond the round end 11a of the strut and that this projecting end hasformed therein a bayonet slot 20 comprising a longitudinally-extending portion 20a and a second portion 20b extending circumferentially from the lower end of slot portion 2011.

As best shown at FIGURE 3, sleeve 19 also has an aperture 21 through its wall. This aperture is positioned about diametrically opposite the lower end of slot portion 20a and its lower edge surface forms a fulcrum for a trigger or kick-off lever 22, preferably of low-friction plastic or light metal.

The shape and form of member 22 are clearly shown upon FIGURE 10, to include a hole 23, a fulcrum notch 24, and a nose portion 22a including an upwardly-sloping cam surface 22b terminating at notch 25. The hole 23 receives a wire loop 26 conveniently of S shape and having rubber bands 15 looped thereover in a manner clear from inspection of FIGURES 1 and 9.

Thus, when strut 11 is removed from its position in sleeve 3, that is, the position shown upon FIGURE 1, its propeller 16 may be turned by hand to twist bands 15 and impart the required propulsion energy thereto. The trigger is, of course, freely pivotable laterally and vertically within aperture 21. The pitch of propeller 16 and bayonet slot 20 are so related that when the propeller is thus turned to energize the bands to drive the propeller in the flight direction, the resulting twist-torsion reaction upon S-loop 26 urges the nose 22a of trigger 22 into the circumferential portion 20b of the slot and out of longitudinal portion 20a thereof.

When the propeller has been turned to place the necessary twist in the rubber bands, and before strut 28 has been positioned with its lower end in sleeve 19, trigger or lever 22 Will be in a released position similar to that shown in FIGURE 4 for trigger 36, and with its notch 24 engaging over the lower edge of aperture 21, FIGURE 3, and notch 25 engaging over the upper edge thereof. Thus the trigger is firmly held against being pulled from sleeve 19 by the tension of bands 15 while at the same time it effectively resists the reaction due to the twist therein. Furthermore, in this position, nose 22a extends forwardly or upwardly within sleeve 19, for engagement by the lower end of strut 28 and movement thereby into cocked position as the strut is inserted into the sleeve in preparation for flight.

The second stage or flight unit generally identified at 27, comprises a rod or strut 23 of light wood such as balsa, or light metal, and which is preferably round in cross section with both ends reduced in diameter for a short distance. The lower end is fitted with a sleeve 29' of plastic or light metal and has an integral offset lug 30 axially drilled to provide a bearing for propeller shaft 31 and having aflixed to its. lower end a propeller 32 with intermediate thrust bearing 33. Power is supplied by rubber bands 34 in the same way as has been described in connection with flight stage 10.

Except for its smaller wing area, weaker rubber band and size of propeller, the assembly just described, including sleeve 29, lug 30, propeller shaft 31, propeller 32, etc., may be a duplicate of the one previously described as attached to the lower end of strut 11 and forming a part of first flight stage 10. From FIGURE 3 it will be noted that, as sleeve 29 of stage 27 is slid into sleeve 19, lug 30 slides within slot 2%, FIGURES 6 and 9. Round wear plates of plastic, not shown, may be secured over the lower ends of struts 11 and 28, etc. It will also be noted from FIGURE 3 that, when assembled, the propeller and bands of the two stages, lie upon opposite sides of the common longitudinal axis of the stages. The wing of stage 27 is identified at 34 and, except for reduced size, may be a duplicate of wing 18 and secured to its strut 28 in a like manner. Its propeller 32 is also smaller than propeller 16 of the first stage and its rubber band is weaker than that of flight stage 10 since it propels a lesser weight. The forward end of strut 28 is fitted with a sleeve 35 secured thereto in any suitable way. Since this sleeve may be a duplicate of sleeve 19, previously described, it need not be described in detail. Trigger or release lever 36 is a duplicate of 22 and is connected with propulsion bands 34 in a similar way, by S-loop 37.

In the model selected for illustration, two flight stages are used, preceded by a nose dart or cone, generally identified at 38 and shown simply as a length of rod 39 of balsa, but somewhat shorter than struts 11 and 28 and having a rounded nose 39a, FIGURE 1, and two sets of wings or vanes 40 at its rearward end, the extremity of which bears a thin-walled sleeve with a short radial lug 39b and a bottom wear plate. The wings or vanes are conveniently secured to body 39 by slotting the latter radially in mutually-normal radial planes and inserting a one-piece wing of the same general shape as 18 and 34, through one slot, followed by smaller or half wings in the two sides of the other slot. All wings may be of light veneer or light sheet metal and may be secured in place by adhesive,

Although the instrument may be used in innumerable interesting, entertaining and instructive ways, its use will be described in connection with the complete assembly shown upon FIGURE 1. The arm 7 of spring 5 is positioned as shown in full lines upon FIGURE 7, with offset end 7a within notch 4b. Propeller 16 is manually rotated reversely of the forward flight direction and when bands are fully twisted or energized, the lower end of strut 11 is inserted into sleeve 3, with its end in contact with ofiset 7a. In this position, propeller 16 is held against rotation by engagement against the sleeve. In this as in other flight stages, the parts are so dimensioned that bands 15 and 34 are under initial tension, that is, in the untwisted condition.

Propeller 32 of second stage 2'7 is then turned until its propulsion bands 34 are fully energized, after which sleeve 29 on the lower end of strut 28 is inserted into sleeve 19, with lug 3i! riding in and along slot 20. This action causes the end of strut 28 or, rather, the wear plate on the end thereof, to engage trigger 22 and pivot it downwardly to the position shown upon FIGURE 3, from a released position such as that shown at FIGURE 4 for trigger 36. When thus cocked, nose 22a is shifted laterally, by the twist-torsion of the bands 15, into portion b of slot 20. At this time, rotation of propeller 32 is prevented by sleeve 19, as is clear from inspection of FIGURE 3.

The lower end of nose dart 38 is next inserted into the open upper end of sleeve 35 and its trigger 36 is thereby camrned to the position shown at FIGURE 2. The trigger is then automatically rotated laterally by the twisttorsion in bands 34 until its nose moves into the circumferential or lateral portion 41b of slot 41. See FIGURE 5. In each case the tension and torsion exerted by the propulsion bands is taken by the corresponding lever or trigger.

The assembly is now ready for launching with all components in axially-aligned relation. Post '1 is forced into the ground, preferably in a vertical position and cord 9 is pulled. Spring 5 is thereby pivoted about its oifset end 6a to move end 7a out of slot portion 4b. The energy in the spring is suddenly released to impart a powerful thrust or kick to the lower end of strut 11 and to impel the assembled stages and nose dart upwardly.

As soon as strut 11 clears the launcher, propeller 16 is freed and rotates under the driving power of bands 15 to propel the assembled units upwardly. As the bands untwist, the reaction of their twist-torsion on lever 22 decreases and finally disappears so that thereafter the only reaction of the bands upon the lever is that due to their initial or residual pull, which pull tends to pivot the lever to a position similar to that shown upon FIG- URE 4. This pull or force tends to urge nose 22a out of slot portion 2% and into the vertical or longitudinal portion 2011, as if it were riding downhill. The effect is due to the curvature of the round sleeve-wall, enhanced by the action of the slope or cam edge 22b of cam extremity 22a, as well as by the action of notch 24 as it rides over the rearward edge of aperture or slot 21. As the trigger is thus urged free of slot portion 2%, it is suddenly released and, in snapping to the position corresponding to that shown upon FIGURE 4, impels or kicks second stage 27 free of sleeve 19.

Propeller 32 is thereby freed for rotation so that second stage 27 and the nose dart continue their upward flight. In a manner like that previously described for lever or trigger 22, trigger 36 is moved out of circumferential portion ilb of bayonent slot 41 by the residual pull of bands 34 so that nose dart 38 is kicked free of sleeve 35, to continue upwardly. The entire action closely simulates that of a multi-stage rocket with nose cone and is thus not only entertaining but instructive to all in showing how the several stages of a rocket and nose cone are sequentially separated as upward flight progresses.

While I have described the form of the invention presently preferred by me, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Consequently the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense; and it is my desire and intention to reserve all modifications within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an aerial flight toy, a flight stage comprising an elongated winged body element, a launching post, a sleeve carried by said launching post, there being a bayonet slot in the wall of said sleeve, a spring comprising a pair of arms having first and second parallel ofiset ends, respectively, and means interconnecting said arms at their ends remote from said oifset ends to resiliently urge said ends apart, said first offset end being journaled in and diametrically of said sleeve in longitudinal alignment with and rearwardly of said slot, said second offset end being pivotable about said first offset end, from a first position latched within said bayonet slot, to a second position for movement free thereof under the urge of said interconnecting means, the rearward end of said winged body element releasably fitting said sleeve in contactable relation by said second offset end when in latched position.

2. In a stage separation unit for a multistage aerial flight device, a sleeve having a bayonet slot in one wall thereof, said slot comprising a first longitudinally-extending section and a second section extending circumferentially from the base end of said first section, said sleeve also having an aperture in its wall diametrically opposite the base end of said first section, a lever pivoted between its ends in, and extending through, said aperture, and having one end formed with a nose comprising an outwardly and rearwardly sloping cam edge engageable with the forward edge of said second slot section, the second end of said lever projecting exteriorly of said sleeve, the construction and arrangement being such that a pull on the second end of said lever axially of said sleeve, develops a component force between said cam edge and the edge of the circumferential section of said slot, urging said lever in rotation about an axis parallel with the axis of said sleeve and toward the first section of said slot.

3. A unit as in claim 2, said lever having a notch in its rearward edge and between its ends, said notch fitting over an edge of said aperture to mount said lever for rotation about mutually normal intersecting axes.

4. In an aerial flight device, a first stage body having a longitudinal flight axis, a socket fixed with the forward end of said first stage body, there being a bayonet guide channel in the wall of said socket and having a first section parallel with said longitudinal axis and a second section extending from the rearward end of said first section in a plane normal to said axis, a lever universally pivoted to said socket at a point diametrically opposite the intersection of said sections and extending across said socket with one end positioned to move in sequence in and along said sections for guidance thereby, a propeller journaled on said first stage body rearwardly of said lever, resilient band power means interconnecting said propeller and said lever, said lever having a cam edge which, when in contact with said second channel section, develops a first reaction torque upon said lever having a component urging said one end thereof into said first section in response to tension in said resilient band power means, said resilient band power means, when twisted for flight, applying a second reaction torque component on said lever to hold said lever within said second channel section, depletion of twist in said resilient band power means reducing said second reaction torque component to a value less than said first reaction torque component, whereby said lever is first pivotally moved about an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, out of said second channel section and into said first channel section, and then pivoted forwardly about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis along said first channel section, by and in response to tension in said power means.

5. An aerial flight device as in claim 4, a second stage having a portion releasably fitting said socket, forward pivoting of said lever in and along said first channel section engaging said portion of said second stage to expel the same from'said socket.

6. An aerial flight instrument comprising an elongated Winged body element, a propeller journaled upon the rearward end of said element for rotation upon an axis parallel therewith, a sleeve fixed with and projecting forwardly fromsaid element, the projecting end of said sleeve having first and second diametrically opposite slots in its wall, said second slot comprising a first longitudinal section and a second circumferential section opening into the rearward end of said first section, a trigger lever having a notch intermediate its ends and fitting over the rearward edge of said first slot for universal pivotal movement about transverse and longitudinal axes, a first end of said lever having a rearwardly and outwardly sloping cam edge engageable with the circumferential section of said second slot to hold said lever in cocked position, the point of contact between said cam edge and the edge of said circumferential section moving outwardly along said cam edge as said lever pivots about said longitudinal axis toward the longitudinal section of said second slot, and resilient band propulsion means connecting said propeller and the second end of said lever externally of said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

6. AN AERIAL FLIGHT INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED WINGED BODY ELEMENT, A PROPELLER JOURNALED UPON THE REARWARD END OF SAID ELEMENT FOR ROTATION UPON AN AXIS PARALLEL THEREWITH, A SLEEVE FIXED WITH AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY FROM SAID ELEMENT, THE PROJECTING END OF SAID SLEEVE HAVING FIRST AND SECOND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SLOTS IN ITS WALL, SAID SECOND SLOT COMPRISING A FIRST LONGITUDINAL SECTION AND A SECOND CIRCUMFERENTIAL SECTION OPENING INTO THE REARWARD END OF SAID FIRST SECTION, A TRIGGER LEVER HAVING A NOTCH INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AND FITTING OVER THE REARWARD EDGE OF SAID FIRST SLOT FOR UNIVERSAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL AXES, A FIRST END OF SAID LEVER HAVING A REARWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY SLOPING CAM EDGE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SECTION OF SAID SECOND SLOT TO HOLD SAID LEVER IN COCKED POSITION, THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN SAID CAM EDGE AND THE EDGE OF SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL SECTION MOVING OUTWARDLY ALONG SAID CAM EDGE AS SAID LEVER PIVOTS ABOUT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS TOWARD THE LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF SAID SECOND SLOT, AND RESILIENT BAND PROPULSION MEANS CON- 